Text Size

"There won't be any emergencies in the North at least in the next few months," said Baek Seung-joo of the state-run Korea Institute for Defense Analyses in South Korea.

Another analyst said an internal power struggle could break out between

Kim Jong Un and his aunt's husband, Jang Song Thaek, who was elevated in the government last year and likely will be given a caretaker role in the new administration

"Tension will arise between Jang and Kim Jong Un, because Kim will have no choice but to share some power with Jang," said Ryoo Kihl-jae, a professor at the University of North Korean Studies, which is in South Korea.

The North said it would place Kim's body in the Kumsusan memorial palace in Pyongyang and that his funeral would be Dec. 28.

No entertainment will be allowed during a 10-day mourning period, and the country w

South Korea's President Lee urged his people to remain calm while his Cabinet and the parliament convened emergency meetings.

The Defense Ministry said the South Korean military and the 28,500 U.S. troops stationed in South Korea bolstered reconnaissance and were sharing intelligence on North Korea. Lee also talked with the leaders of Japan and Russia.

The White House said in a statement that it is closely monitoring reports of Kim's death. "We remain committed to stability on the Korean peninsula, and to the freedom and security of our allies," the statement said.

The Obama administration may postpone decisions on re-engaging the North in nuclear talks and providing it with food aid, U.S. officials said.

The administration had been expected to decide on both issues this week, possibly as early as Monday, but the officials said Kim's death would likely delay the process. The officials spoke on condition of anonymity due to the sensitivity of the situation.

They said the U.S. was particularly concerned about any changes that Kim's death might spark in the military postures of North and South Korea but were hopeful that calm would prevail.

In a "special broadcast" Monday from the North Korean capital, state media said

Kim died on a train due to a "great mental and physical strain" during a "high intensity field inspection." It said an autopsy was done on Dec. 18 and "fully confirmed" the diagnosis.

Kim is believed to have suffered a stroke in 2008, but he had appeared relatively vigorous in photos and video from recent trips to China and Russia and in numerous trips around the country carefully documented by state media.

"It is the biggest loss for the party ... and it is our people and nation's biggest sadness," an anchorwoman clad in black Korean traditional dress said in a voice choked with tears.

Chae Jae-eun, a South Korean company worker, said from Seoul that she worried mostly about the economic implications of Kim Jong Il's death.

Asian stock markets moved lower following the news.

A group of North Koreans waiting at Beijing airport for their flight to Pyongyang reacted with shock when asked of Kim's death.

One woman broke into tears as she pulled out a handkerchief. One of her companions led her away when she looked as if she would collapse.

I'd like to be able to say that yes, his death will effect positive change, but I really doubt it. POLL: With the death of Kim Jong Il, with North Korea move out of isolation? Vote: http://www.wepolls.com/p/66785...

Who does theObama propose we replace Kim Jong II with? Is he even engaged in the process, or is he in Hawaii playing golf? We have a rare opportunity to stand with our ally South Korea and force positive change on North Korea and further the fight for human rights. Or, theObama could just practice perfecting his golf swing and not worry about the potential fallout of letting North Korea fall into some desperado's hand.

Didn't listen to MacArthur? You mean the same MacArthur who said the war would be over and the troops would be home by Christmas in 1950? That MacArthur? The one who didn't account for a million Chinese soldiers and minimized the Chinese threat? That MacArthur? You mean the one Truman rightfully fired, since he fancied himself Commander in Chief, rather than just a general? That MacArthur? Yeah, Truman should have listened to him alright. Maybe you should read a Wikipedia article on MacArthur in the Korean War and get a freaking clue.

Another joke of a comment by a joke of a poster in NeoCon in the Matrix. Yes, let's "stand with South Korea." Obama can just talk like Dirty Harry and force North Korea to install whomever he wants as leader. I mean it worked great with Bush and Karzai, didn't it? Isn't Hamid our bosom buddy? He's never stabbed us in the back at all, has he? You're embarrassing.

The White House is waming up the teleprompters, Obama will find a way to take credit for this.

Jong simply couldn't compete with the world class ego of Obama, he couldn't stand being second.. This is a dangerous time, there is so much happening and all of it is all bad. We need a true statesman in the WH and it appears none are available.

OMG! How tragic! The most distraught person in the world at this time after hearing this news surely is former Clinton secretary of state Madeline Albright who bragged numerous times about having slept with the Dear Leader.

I agree, White Mindless Fink. The inexperienced Rube that allowed 9/11 on his watch and the worst financial crisis since the Great Depression really put us in a bad way. As for you, Oblivious, you couldn't have more of an apt name. So all that is happening is bad, ay? Who knew you guys on the right would still want bin Laden, Khaddafy and Kim Jong Il to still be alive. And I thought you guys liked freedom. Who knew?